Excavating and conveying apparatus.



J. L. POTTER.

EXOAVATING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1911.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

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ATTORNEY.

J. L. POTTER.

EXCAVATING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 21 1911.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

J. L. POTTER.

EXGAVATING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED J NE 21, 1911.

1,081 ,060, Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

JNVENTOR:

% W 9 ATTORNEY.

ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH L. POTTER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

EXCAVATING- AND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr L. POTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Excavating and Conveying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to movable structures for excavating or for hoisting and for conveying materials or substances, the invention having reference more particularly to movable machinery or apparatus for eX- cavating trenches for sewers, and for conveying the earth from the trenches and discharging it back into the trenches after com pletion of portions of the masonry or sewer structure.

The object of the invention primarily is to provide improved apparatus of the above mentioned character that will be adapted to permit the excavating implement employed to be expeditiously advanced in the excavation without requiring frequent movement of the main structure, a further object being to provide simple and cheaply constructed apparatus, for excavating and conveying and for similar purposes, that will be adapted to be operated by the minimum number of attendants and therefore capable of being operated economically; a still fur ther object being to provide excavating and conveying apparatus that will be adapted to be readily transported and set up for work or taken down for shipment, and which will be so constructed as to be reliable and durable in use.

The invention consists in a movable engine-car provided with a hoisting engine, a movable trestle connected to the engine-car, and a conveying car and also a hoisting car movably mounted upon the trestle, the hoisting car supporting apparatus for loading the conveying car, the apparatus preferably including an excavating implement; and the invention consists further in the novel parts and in the combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus partially broken away; Fig. 2, a top plan thereof as preferably constructed; Fig. 3, 'a transverse sectional view on the line A A Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 21, 1911.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913. Serial No. 634,587.

in Fig. 1; Fig. 4-, a transverse sectional view on the line B B in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a fragmentary section of the conveying car showing means for taking up the slack of the draft cable; Fig. 6, a side elevation of the apparatus slightly modified with respect to the hoisting car and trestle; and Fig. 7, a top plan of Fig. 6.

Similar reference characters in the different figures of the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to.

In carrying out the objects of the invent1on tWo track rails 1 and l are employed and placed at opposite sides of the plane of the contemplated trench, the rails preferably being placed upon stringers 2 and 2 respectively. The engine car comprises a main frame 3 provided with flanged wheels 4, 4. and 5, 5, which are mounted upon the rails, an upright frame comprising posts 6 and 6' and preferably an intermediate post 6 erected on one end portion of the main frame and suitably braced, a beam 7 being secured horizontally to the posts at a suitable height above the main frame. A suitable hoisting engine 8 is mounted upon the opposite end portion of the main frame and it includes a winding drum 9 provided with a clutch operating arm 10 and a winding drum 11 provided with a clutch operating arm 12, the winding drum 11 preferably being one-half as large in diameter as the winding drum 9. An auxiliary engine 13 is mounted on the main frame adjacently to the upright frame and its main shaft is provided with a sprocket-wheel 14-.

A trestle of considerable length preferably is provided which comprises a suitable number of horizontal beams 15, 15, 15", each beam being provided with. two legs 16 and 16,the legs being provided with flanged wheels 17 and 17, respectively, that are mounted upon the track rails. Two track rails 18 and 18' are secured upon the horizontal beams or bcnts of the trestle and also to the beam 7 at a suitable distance apart less than the distance between the rails 1 and 1'. Preferably two shorter track rails 19 and 19 are secured also upon the hori zontal beams and spaced farther apart than the rails 18 and 18 so as to constitute a relatively broad gage track. The track rails on the bents preferably are composed of chan- 1101 section iron or steel and are adapted to perform the function of stringers. The

lower portion of the legs 16 and 16 are connected together respectively by means of tie bars 20 and 20 which are connected also to the main frame 3 of the engine-car. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the broad gage track rails may in some cases be omitted from the structure.

A suitable hoisting car or movable frame is provided which preferably comprises two side sills 21 and 21 spaced a suitable distance apart in conformity to prearrangement to adapt the structure to the track on the trustle upon which it may be determined to support it, there being two corner posts 22 and 22 secured upon the sill 21 and two corner posts 23 and 23 secured upon the sill 21, the posts supporting a top frame preferably comprising two longitudinal beams 24 and 24 and two transverse end members 25 and 25, all secured together and to the upper ends of the posts. The posts are further connected together preferably on a plane somewhat above the side sills by means of tie bars 26 and 26 extending longitudinally and tie bars 27 and 27 extending transversely, so that the lower portion of the frame is open longitudinally to permit a conveying car to pass through the lower portion of the frame when the latter is mounted on the broad gage track, the sill 21 being provided with a pair of flanged wheels 28 and 28 and the sill 21 being provided with flanged wheels 29 and 29, the sills preferably being suitably spaced apart and the wheels mounted on the rails 19 and 19; but, as will be seen in Figs. 6 and 7, the movable frame may be slightly modified so as to be relatively narrow and permit the wheels to be mounted on the rails 18 and 18. Two guide sheaves 30 and 31 are rotatably mounted upon the top frame of the hoisting car or movable frame near the end thereof that is toward the enginecar, and two similar sheaves 32 and 33 are mounted upon the opposite end portion of the top frame, the sheaves preferably being mounted upon the beams 24 and 24 which suitably support two other sheaves 34 and 35 relatively closer together and approximately in the same vertical plane as the sheaves 30 and 32. The sheaves 31 and 33, in the interest of clearness are illustrated as being larger than the sheaves 30 and 32 but in practice all the sheaves preferably are equal in diameter. in some cases the beams 24 and 24 may extend beyond the plane of two of the corner posts and in such case the sheave 35 may be dispensed with, as may be seen in Figs. 6 and 7.

The hoisting car or movable frame may be moved in operation by any suitable means desired but preferably by means of the hoisting engine, in which case a guide sheave 36 is suitably mounted on the upright frame of the engine-car, the upright frame supporting also another sheave 37 preferably lower down than the sheave 36. At the farther end of the broad gage track from the engine-car or in any desired position a suitable tail-block is erected, and may suitably comprise two upright posts 38 and 38 upon which is supported, above the narrow gage track, a shaft 39 on the middle portion of which a guide or tail sheave 40 is mounted. An excavating implement 41 of suitable construction may be employed, that shown being a clam-shell bucket having a head member 42 provided with a sheave 43 and also a sheave 44, the latter being connected with the devices for opening or closing the bucket. A cable 45 is connected to the winding drum 9 and extends over the sheaves 35,31, 33 and about the sheave 40, thence returning extends over the sheave 32 and also over the sheaves 35 if the latter is provided, and thence under the sheave 43 and is secured to a clasp 46 connected to the shaft on which the sheave 34 is mounted, so that the cable 45 is suitably arranged for hoisting purposes and also for moving the hoisting car or frame away from the engine-car. Another cable 47 is connected to the winding drum 11 and extends over the sheaves 37, 31, 34 and 44, and is suitably connected in the usual manner with the head of the clam-shell for controlling the opening or closing operations, and as will be understood, when the cable 45 is allowed to run off of the winding drum 9 the cable 47 may be used for drawing the hoisting car or frame toward the engine-car. In the preferred construction, as in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the excavating or hoisting implement is raised or lowered between the axes of the wheels 28 and 29 and wheels 28' and 29 respectively, but as arranged with the modified construction as in Figs. 6 and 7 it will be seen that the implement is suspended at one end of the main portion of the frame of the hoisting car, the beams 24 and 24 extending rearward so as to constitute an over-hanging arm for supporting the excavating implement.

A suitable conveying car preferably is employed and may comprise a frame 48 on which is a hopper 49 provided with a dropbottom 49, the frame being provided with flanged wheels 50, 50, 51, 51, that are mounted on the narrow gage track rails 18 and 18. One end of the conveying car frame preferably is provided with a drawbar 52 that extends through the end sill of the frame and also through a cross beam 48 of the frame and has a screw-threaded end portion 53 on which is a nut 54 that engages the inner side of the beam 48. The opposite end of the frame 48 is provided with an eye 55 which is arran ed approximately at one corner of the frame.

A shaft 56 is rotatably mounted on the iii upright frame of the engine-car, and a sprocketovheel 57 and also a winding drum or pulley 58 are secured to the shaft, a sprocket-chain 59 being connected with the sprocket-wheel 57 and also with the sprocket-wheel 14 of the auxiliary engine. A guide sheave 60 is suitably mounted above the winding drum 58, preferably on a shaft 61 mounted on the upright frame, which shaft in the present case supports also the sheave 87. On the farther end portion of the trestle or at any desired position a suitable tail-block is erected which is not as tall as the first-described tail-block and may comprise posts 62 and 62, a shaft 63 supported by the posts and a rotatable guide or tail sheave 64 supported on the shaft. A cable 65 is wound a number of times about the winding drum or pulley 58 and extends over the sheave 60 and has one end connected to the eye 55, the cable extending about the sheave 64: and having its opposite end connected to the draw-bar 59, so that the portion of the cable that is connected to one side of the conveying car does not inter fere with the operations of the excavating implement when the conveying car is near the hoisting car or frame. In case the cable 65 becomes slackened due to stretching so that it cannot be frictionally moved by the winding drum 58, the nut 54 may be screwed farther onto the end portion 53 of the drawbar and thus tighten the cable.

in practical use, the auxiliary engine being near the winding drums 9 and 11, all may be controlled by one man and as the excavating proceeds the hoisting car or movable frame may be readily moved as occa sion may require toward the engine-car, and when a load is hoisted the conveying car is moved under the excavating implement and receives the load therefrom. Then while the implement is descending and being again filled the conveying car is moved outward at times beyond the nearer tail-block and dumped and then returned to receive another load. It will be seen that the excavating implement may be moved forward a little at a time until inconveniently close to the engine-car, and then. the engine-car and trestle may be advanced forward a suitable distance to permit the convenient operation of the excavating implement at a considerable distance from the engine-car and will then be brought forward a little at a time as before.

It is evident from the foregoing that the hoisting car may readily be moved on its track and carry a load rearward to be discharged into the trench, and therefore in some cases the conveying car may be omitted or its services dispensed with; and it will be apparent that in some cases the trestle may be omitted from the structure, since the hoisting car obviously might be operated on the ground or surface track if desired.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is-

l. Excavating and conveying apparatus including a plurality of track rails, two supported winding drums, a tail sheave supported above the plane of the track rails, a hoisting car movable on the track rails to ward the drums, two cables operatively connected respectively with the two drums and the car and movably guided on the top of the car, one of the two cables extending about the tail sheave, a dumping excavating implement operatively connected with one of the cables, and conveying means movably supported to travel from the hoisting car on a plane below the cable that extends about the tail sheave.

2. In excavating and conveying apparatus, the combination with two supported winding drums, two track rails, a supported tail sheave, and a dumping excavating implement having dumping apparatus, of an uprightly supported frame, two guide sheaves mounted on the frame, a hoisting car movable on the rails between the frame and the tail sheave, and two cables operatively connected respectively with the two winding drums and the hoisting car and extending over said two sheaves respectively, one of said cables extending about the tail sheave, one of said cables carrying the excavating implement, the remaining one of the cables being operatively connected with the dumping apparatus of the implement, said two cables beingmovably guided on the top portion. of said car.

3. in excavating and conveying apparatus, the combination with two supported winding drums, two track rails, an uprightly supported frame, two guide sheaves mounted on the frame, and a supported tail sheave, of a hoistings car movable on the track rails toward or from the frame or the tail sheave, a hoisting cable connected with one of the winding drums and extending over one of said guide sheaves and also over said hoisting car and about the tail sheave, said cable being movably guided on the top portion of said car, a dumping excavating implement carried by said cable, and a second cable connected with the remaining one of the winding drums and extending over the remaining one of the guide sheaves, said second cable being movably guided also on the top portion of said car and connected with the dumping apparatus of said implement.

t. in excavating and conveying appara tus, the combination of an engine car, two winding dri'lms mounted on said car, a supported tail sheave, a track extending under the tail sheave, a hoisting car movable on the track between the engine car and the tail sheave, conveying means movable on the track from the hoisting car under and beyond the position of the tail sheave, a cable connected with one of the winding drums and extending beyond said hoisting car and about the tail sheave, the cable being movably guided on the top portion of the hoisting car, a dumping excavating implement carried by said cable, and a second cable connected with the remaining one of the winding drums and also with the dumping apparatus of the implement, said second cable being movably guided also on the top portion of said hoisting car.

5. In excavating and conveying apparatus, the combination of an engine car, two winding drums mounted on the engine car, a trestle, a supported tail sheave, a hoisting car movably supported on the trestle between the engine car and the tail sheave, a plurality of guide sheaves mounted upon the top portion of the said hoisting car, a cable connected with one of said winding drums and extending over two of said guide sheaves and about the tail sheave, said cable extending back and also over another one of said guide sheaves and secured to the top portion of said hoisting car, a dumping excavating implement carried by said cable, and a second cable connected to the remaining one of said drums and also with the dumping apparatus of the implement, said second cable being movably guided on two others of the said guide sheaves.

6. In excavating and conveying appara tus, the combination of a trestle, an engine car including a frame extending above the plane of the top of the trestle, an auxiliary engine mounted on one side of the middle portion of the engine car, a drive wheel and a winding drum or pulley connected together and mounted on the said frame above the plane of the top of the trestle at one side of the longitudinal middle portion of the trestle, means operatively connecting the drive whee-l with said auxiliary engine, a guide sheave mounted on the trestle, an open frame hoisting car movably mounted on the top of the trestle, an excavating implement movably mounted on the top portion of the hoisting car, conveying car relatively smaller than the hoisting car mounted also on the top of the trestle and movable into or out of the hoisting car, and a cable wound about the winding drum or pulley and extending through the hoisting car and about the guide sheave and connected to the conveying car.

7. In excavating and conveying apparatus, the combination of a movable engine car, a movable trestle having two tail sheaves supported thereon at different distances from the engine car, a hoisting car movable on said trestle between the engine car and the nearer one only of said tail sheaves, conveying means movable on said trestle between said hoisting car and the farther one of said tail sheaves, the conveying means being movable past the nearer one of said tail sheaves, a cable extending about the nearer one of said tail sheaves, said cable being movably guided on the top portion of said hoisting car, means on the engine car for ope-rating the cable, a dumping excavating implement carried by said cable, and another cable operable on the engine car and connected with said conveying means and extending about the farther one of said tail sheaves.

S. In excavating and conveying apparatus, the combination of track rails, an engine car on the rails, a plurality of trestle bents supported on the rails, a plurality of stringers secured to the engine car and also to the bents, a winding drum mounted on the engine car, a tail sheave mounted on the stringers, a hoisting car movably mounted upon and towering to a plane above the stringers, said hoisting car being movable between the engine car and the tail sheave, a plurality of guide sheaves mounted on the top portion of the said hoisting car, a cable connected with the winding drum and also with the top portion of the hoisting car and extending over the tail sheave and all the said guide sheaves, and an excavating implement hung on said cable.

9. In excavating and conveying apparatus, the combination of an engine car including an upright frame, an auxiliary engine mounted on the engine car, a drive wheel and a winding drum or pulley connected together and rotatably mounted on said frame, means operatively connecting the drive wheel with the engine, a tail sheave supported at a distance from the engine car, a guide sheave mounted on the upright frame above the drum or pulley, an open frame hoisting car movable opposite the upright frame, a track for the hoisting car, an excavating implement movably mounted on the top portion of the hoisting car, a conveying car relatively smaller than the hoisting car mounted on the track and movable into or out of the hoisting car, and a cable wound about the said drum or pulley and connected to the conveying car, the cable extending over the guide sheave and through the hoisting car and about the tail sheave.

In testimony whereof, I afi'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH L. POTTER. Witnesses HARRY D. PIERSON, E. T. SILVIUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. i 

